Featherstone Rovers: Sharp eyes next season but keeps focus on this year’s silverware

Peter Smith

FEATHERSTONE ROVERS still have things to play for, despite missing out on promotion.

That’s the message from boss Jon Sharp ahead of today’s final game of the regular Kingstone Press Championship season, at home to Whitehaven (6pm).

Rovers can’t finish in the top four, which means they are out of contention for the middle-eight Qualifiers and a possible Super League place.

But Sharp, who is hoping for his first win as Rovers coach tonight, stressed: “We are taking the Whitehaven game as importantly as we have the other two we’ve played [since he was appointed coach]. There’s no slacking off of expectations or challenges for us. The players have got an opportunity to impress for next year and it is important people put their hand up and perform well.”

Rovers will go into the Championship Shield, a seven-game league competition leading to a final in October.

And Sharp insisted: “There is a trophy to be won. Every competition we are in we want to win, otherwise there’s no point. We will be going hard to win every game and we’ll give it our best shot in every game.”

The coach also said he is evaluating his squad for next season and is keen to give younger players an opportunity to shine over the final months of the campaign. He said: “I want to look at everyone in the squad, especially the young fellas in reserve grade. They deserve an opportunity as well.”

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